Independent participatory media for Iran

Iranian MP Ali Motahari says: “It is every citizen’s right to put questions to the leader in person or through a letter.”

In recent weeks, a number of Iranian political figures have written letters to Ayatollah Khamenei to criticize the country’s political situation.

Motahari stated that “The leader of the Revolution has shown that he will answer questions with an open mind and announced several times that he is open to criticism and questions.”

He added: “Sometimes followers of a political figure may ruin things because they are intent on making an idol out of someone. It is possible to criticize or question the leader and yet be obedient to him.”

He added that Iran’s political crisis will not be resolved until Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani returns to the political arena.

Ayatollah Hashemi Rafsanjani, a moderate cleric and head of the Expediency Council, has been increasingly isolated from the Islamic Republic establishment since he expressed support for the reformists in the presidential elections of 2009.

Motahari stated that despite the political differences, Ayatollah Rafsanjani has a large populist base; therefore, his opponent will not be able to eliminate him from the political arena.

Ayatollah Rafsanjnai was removed from his position as the head of the Assembly of Experts but he still remains chairman of the Expediency Council.